Diane Hilscher, President: e-mail or (651) 436-3836
Roger Miller, Programs: e-mail or (651) 275-0526

Our St. Croix Oak Savanna Chapter sponsors monthly programs by enthusiasts and experts on native plants and natural landscapes. Meetings are normally free and open to the public. Special events may include a registration fee to help cover costs. Cold weather (indoor) meetings are held the third Thursday of the month, 7 pm, at the FamilyMeans building in Stillwater (Click for a Map). Warm weather garden tours and field trips are typically held Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. See our Chapter Calendar below for details. We welcome all levels of plant and gardening enthusiast. Join us to learn more about Minnesota and Wisconsin native plants and how they can enhance our outdoor spaces.

Our chapter president Diane Hilscher is a registered landscape architect and native plant ecologist. She founded Hilscher Design and Ecology in 1991, specializing in landscape design with a strong environmental emphasis. Diane has over twenty-five years of experience in ecological design and construction management, and has served as vice president of the Minnesota Native Plant Society. She enjoys native plant gardening and restoration on two acres of oak savanna near Stillwater.

    Aug 21, 2008 (Thu)    

Bird & Native Plant Tour of St. Croix Savanna Scientific & Natural Area (SNA)
Bayport, MN
Thursday, August 21st, 6:30 to 8:30 PM (storm date Sunday, August 24th, 3:00 to 5:00 PM)

NOTE: Space is limited. To reserve a spot, RSVP to Joan at wildones.texlersnatour@gmail.com or phone (651) 436-5329. Joan will confirm reservations, provide driving directions, parking information, and details of our hike. If all our spaces fill, a short wait-list may be compiled; please release your reservation if your plans change.

Join us for a guided field trip through the sand-gravel prairie and oak savanna of St. Croix Savanna Scientific and Natural Area (SNA). The savanna occurs along the top and side of a south-facing bluff just south of Bayport, with stunning views of the St. Croix River. DNR describes this as the best sand-gravel prairie and oak savanna along the Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Difficulty: Easy walk wholly off-trail.

The tour is jointly sponsored by the St. Croix Oak Savanna Chapter of Wild Ones and the St. Paul Audubon Society. Bring your favorite native prairie plant and bird field guides and binoculars. Our guides include Hannah Dunevitz Texler, MN DNR Regional Plant Ecologist, and Chase Davies, naturalist and field guide with the St. Paul Audubon Society. Additional information on the SNA, including plant and bird lists, can be found HERE.